“Old School Person!” Denny Hamlin Wants NASCAR Clash to Return to Daytona

Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin wants the Clash to return to Daytona despite having concerns as a team owner.

“Old School Person!” Denny Hamlin Wants NASCAR Clash to Return to Daytona

Denny Hamlin (Via @JoeGibbsRacing/X)

🔍 Explore this post with:

ChatGPTPerplexityGrok AIGoogle AI

The NASCAR Cup Series unofficial season opener at Bowman Gray Staiudm was a chaotic win that saw RFK Racing’s Ryan Preece securing an emotional win. But not everyone was a fan of the aggressive race product and some is demanding changes.

Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin was asked about his thoughts on the situation and highlighted as long as the races are entertaining to the casual fans, he is okay with the venues. NASCAR will get viewership if the event is good, considering no major outdoor sport has in this time.

There’s a reason why most outdoor sports aren’t playing right now this time of year. I don’t know, as long as it was entertaining, I don’t really care.

Denny Hamlin said via Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports.

But the old school person in the Joe Gibbs Racing veteran wants a change. Though from the perspective of a team owner (23XI Racing) he hates the clash at Daytona, as a racer and a fan, he loves a homecoming for the event.

I’m an old school person, I’ve felt like, as a car owner, I hate the Clash at Daytona, but I can tell you, as a competitor, and I think for the sport, the best place is to have it at Daytona to build some excitement for the 500.

Denny Hamlin added.

The veteran believes not having the race back at Daytona, building the buzz for the Daytona 500 is a big miss for the sport. The prestige and iconic stature of the venue make any racing special at the Florida beach venue.

I think that’s a big content miss that we have [creating excitement for the Daytona 500]. There’s positives to this, too, where you’re getting back to the short track, certainly, a track that’s been around a long time.

Denny Hamlin asserted.

Denny Hamlin’s crew chief expects the veteran to be in prime spot to win 2026 Championship

The No:11 Toyota Camry team crew chief Chris Gayle shared his expectations for Denny Hamlin in the 2026 season. He has full faith on his driver to be in the championship fight; despite the tough off-season he had with the charter lawsuit trail and death of his father.

Denny Hamlin (via Imago)
Denny Hamlin (via Imago)

Oh, for sure. I think he’ll get there a hundred percent. I have the utmost faith that that’ll happen. Obviously yes, he’s had a tremendous up-and-down off-season, right? Like it’s just remarkable the things he’s had to kind of endure and go through.

Chris Gayle said.

The Clash helped him, the driver and the whole No:11 team to get over the rust from the off-season. He admitted that it is hard for team to immediately get back to winning form after a three months long break.

So, I think it’ll just take some time to get there, right? The Clash, I think for all of us, we knocked the rust off a little bit. You sit down for three months, and it’s a unique format, it’s hard to get fully back where you need to be in one event.

Chris Gayle added.

The comments from the crew chief seems rational and on point. It would be interesting to see how everything is going to playout for the star driver and his team in the 2026 season, with the sport set to adapt a new format.

Also Read: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Blasts Critics of NASCAR Clash at Bowman Gray